Move to Bulgaria
Everything from a holiday visit to a permanent move, plus the rules that affect your right to be here.
Visit Bulgaria
Sofia, the coast, the Rila and Pirin mountains, food, culture, and the British holidaymaker's planning guide.
Business in Bulgaria
OOD vs EOOD vs branch, the 10% flat tax, registering at the Chamber of Commerce, business meeting etiquette.
Residency
D-visa routes, the residence permit process, registering a Bulgarian address, the 5-year permanent residence path.
Brexit & WA Rights
The Article 50 TEU residence card, late applications, EES & ETIAS exemptions, NHIF, S1 and pension uprating.
Money
Banking, cost of living, taxes, and avoiding the predictable scams that target British arrivals.
Banking in Bulgaria
The big six banks, post-Brexit KYC, the €4-6K saving on a £200K transfer, mortgages, CRS reporting, hidden fees.
Cost of Living Tracker
Live data refreshed weekly. Groceries, utilities, rent, eating out, and the Bulgarian-vs-UK earning-power comparison.
Money & Scams
The euro changeover, the rounding-up effect, taxi scams, ATM dynamic currency conversion, and the KZP complaint route.
Taxes
The 10% flat tax, the 183-day residence rule, double-tax treaty with the UK, declaring rental income, the eToro angle.
Property & Home
Buying or renting, plus the utilities you'll need to set up either way.
Buying Property
The OOD/EOOD requirement for buying land, the notary process, agency fees, viva plot vs apartment, the village house calculation.
Renting
Deposits, agency fees, contract terms, what "furnished" actually means here, the small-claims threshold for disputes.
Utilities
The DPI tariff trap, the OOD business-tariff rule, Energo-Pro 50% advance, Toplofikatsia, water, gas, internet, mobile.
Daily Life
Driving, health, pets and the day-to-day practicalities that catch British arrivals out.
Driving & Roads
Licence exchange, vignettes, the 0.5 limit, parking in Sofia, motorway tolls, the road-trip Sofia to the coast.
Health
NHIF registration, GHIC for visits, English-speaking GPs, private vs state hospitals, prescription costs, dentistry.
Pets
The April 2026 EU rule change, AHCs, airlines that ban pets, BG vet costs, tick disease, vipers, Karakachan dogs.
Endings & Legal
Estate planning, inheritance and the practical reality of death abroad. Sensitive topics, written for British expats with assets in two jurisdictions.
Local & About
The Shumen city guide, the editorial mission, and how to get in touch.
Shumen City Guide
The 5,000-year history, the Tombul Mosque, the Founders monument, the local British network, food, accommodation.
About Shumen.UK
Why we exist, who's behind it, what we cover, and how to get in touch with story tips or corrections.
Share Your Story
Got a Bulgaria story to tell, a tip from your village, or a correction to a published piece? We'd love to hear from you.